Novel pallet-package structure for cathode ray tubes

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an integral combination of a pallet and a package section which forms a one-piece pallet-package structure for cathode ray tubes. The pallet portion of the structure comprises a container having a bottom, sides extending substantially vertically therefrom to form an open top container, and feet elements outwardly protruding from the bottom to support the pallet in a raised position such that the pallet is capable of receiving the forks of a lift truck from all four sides. The package section forms an insert in the open top container and provides contoured cavities for accepting cathode ray tube elements and enclosing approximately 50 percent of these elements. A second package section identical to the package section used as a container insert is positioned in an oppositely disposed registering relationship with the container insert to completely enclose the cathode ray tube elements. The palletpackage structure forms a base upon which vertically mated package sections can be vertically stacked to a desired height for warehouse storage or for transporting to a truck for shipment.

United States Patent 1 Brander et al.

( 1 Feb.2o,1973

[54] NOVEL PALLET-PACKAGE STRUCTURE FOR CATHODE RAY TUBES [75] Inventors: George T. Brander, Murrysville, Pa.; William M. Lander, l-lorseheads, NY.

[73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

221 Filed: Feb.1l,'197l [21] Appl.No.: 114,615

Primary ExaminerWilliam T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney-F. H. Henson, C. F. Renz and M. P. Lunch [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to an integral combination of a pallet and a package section which forms a one-piece pallet-package structure for cathode ray tubes. The pallet portion of the structure comprises a container having a bottom, sides extending substantially vertically therefrom to form an open top container, and feet elements outwardly protruding from the bottom to support the pallet in a raised position such that the pallet is capable of receiving the forks of a lift truck from all four sides. The package section forms an insert in the open top container and provides contoured cavities for accepting cathode ray tube elements and enclosing approximately 50 percent of these elements. A second package section identical to the package section used as a container insert is positioned in an oppositely disposed registering relationship with the container insert to completely enclose the cathode ray tube elements. The pallet-package structure forms a base upon which vertically mated package sections can be vertically stacked to a desired height for warehouse storage or for transporting to a truck for shipment.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEU r5320 ms SHEET 3 BF 3 FIG. 3

90 FIG. 4

NOVEL PALLET-PACKAGE STRUCTURE FOR CATIIODE RAY TUBES CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATING APPLICATION This application is related to application Ser. No. 805,l29, filed Mar. 7, 1969, entitled Packaging Means For Cathode Ray Tubes Structures, and assigned to the assignees of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The fragility of tube units, such as glass funnel structures and finished cathode ray tubes, have resulted in the expenditure of considerable funds and time by manufactures to develop optimum packaging and bandling techniques. While efforts to date have produced packaging methods which solve some of the problems encountered in handling cathode ray tubes, there remains numerous disadvantages in these methods, especially in the handling and packaging of large quantities of cathode ray tubes.

The present packaging and handling methods are made complex due to the many individual pieces required to complete the packaging of a relatively few tube units. Furthermore, while present packaging methods permit compact, multipackaging of tube units there are no provisions for efficiently stacking the tube units and no provisions for effectively transporting these stacks within a warehouse, or to and from a shipping truck without the use of a separate pallet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is an integral combination of a pallet and a package section formed from a plastic type material such as high density polyethylene to form a base package structure for packaging and handling cathode ray tubes and supporting vertical stacking of packaged cathode ray tube elements.

The pallet structure is in the form of a one piece container having an open top, vertically extending side walls and a bottom with outwardly protruding feet to support the pallet structure in a raised position to permit the insertion of forks of a lift truck beneath the pallet-package structure from any side. The feet are arranged not only to permit insertion of the forks, but also to maintain desired alignment of the forks.

The package section which provides horizontal packaging of individual cathode ray tube units and encloses approximately 50 percent of each units, is integrally formed with the pallet structure and serves as a container insert.

An identically formed package section is positioned in an oppositely disposed registering relationship with the container insert thereby forming a multipack enclosure which completely encloses the cathode ray tube units.

The package section is designed to accommodate glass funnel sections and finished cathode ray tube with or without enclosing systems thus providing optimum utilization of the package section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an embodiment of the novel pallet-package section combination comprising the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view illustrating utilization of a package section of the type illustrated in FIG. 1 to completely enclose the cathode ray tube structures.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along the lines IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates the vertical stacking capability of the multipack enclosures of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a partial view illustrating the interlocked stackings of a pallet package structure on a multi-pack enclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a palletpackage structure means I in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention which comprises an integral package section 10 and a pallet structure fabricated from a suitable material such as styrene or polyethylene by one of several techniques including vacuum forming.

The package section 10 includes multiple tapered cell elements 12, wherein each cell element 12 is constructed to accommodate a tube unit such as a glass funnel section or a finished cathode ray tube. The cell arrangement efficiently utilizes the available area of section 10 by reversing the packaging direction of alternate rows (1, 2, 3) of cell elements 12 and staggering the cell element from adjacent rows to efficiently accommodate the cell cavities 14 of the respective cell elements.

The package section 10 which is more accurately defined as a half section in that it provides containment for approximately half of each tube unit, positioned within the cell elements 12. Complete containment of the tube units positioned in section 10 is provided by inverting an identical package section and positioning it over the exposed portion of the tube unit to form a multipack enclosure 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The tapered lines of the cell cavities 14, apparent in FIG. 2, permit compact vertical stacking of the multipack enclosures of FIG. 2 by rotating adjacent multipack enclosures horizontally as illustrated in FIG. 5. This technique and additional features of the package section are described in detail in the previously identified patent application.

In addition to providing efficient storage of tube units the package sections provide inherent protection for the tube units.

The contour of the cell cavities 14 as illustrated in FIG. I conforms generally to the external lines of a cathode ray tube such that the combination of two package sections as a multipack enclosure 20 of FIG. 2 form enclosed volumes corresponding in shape and size to the volume defined by a cathode ray tube.

The structural details of each cell element as illustrated in FIG. 1 are incorporated into a mold and the plastic material is drawn into the mold by vacuum forming techniques under controlled temperature and pressure conditions.

The cell cavity 14 comprises generally a funnelshaped cavity 22 and cylindrical relief areas 24 and 26. The cavity 22 accepts the funnel section 23 and face panel portion 30 of a cathode ray tube while the cylindrical relief area 24 accommodates the neck portion of the tube. The face panel portion 30 consists 'of the screen area or end plate 27 and the rim portion 29. The relief area 26 coincides with the corona area of a television picture tube and the anode electrode button located therein and provides clearance for this area to prevent damage resulting from contact with the package section 10.

A transition relief area 28 is provided between the cavity 22 and the neck relief area 24 to permit insertion of a handlers hand between the packaging section and the cathode ray tube funnel section 23. The relief area 28 discourages removal of the tube by the fragile neck portion of the tube and permits removal of the tube by placing one hand in the relief area to grasp the tube while cooperatively lifting the tube with the second hand placed against the face panel end plate 27.

Face panel end plate protection is provided by inwardly extending vertical projections 32 and 34 of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 which contact inactive edges of the face panel and maintain adequate clearance, approximately V4 inch, between the active area of the face panel 30, and the package section 10. Additional face panel end plate protection is provided by outwardly extending vertical'rib members 38 and 40 of FIG. 1 which prevent warping of the relatively thin packaging wall adjacent to the face panel end plate 27 which could result in contact between the packaging structure and the face panel end plate resulting in possible damage to the end plate.

Furthermore as illustrated in FIG. 1 the cell cavity in the area of the face panel provides additional recesses 46 in the comers of the packaging section to accommodate mounting ears 48 which may or may not be affixed to the face panel section 30 as part of a metal band extending around the circumference of the face panel 30. The corner recesses 46 also function to interlock vertically stacked multipack enclosures as illustrated in FIG. 5 and described in detail in the aboveidentified patent application.

The depth of the cylindrical relief area 24 provided for the neck portion of a tube unit is sufficient to provide an annular clearance about the neck portion when a pair of packaging sections are mated to form amultipack enclosure 20. The annular clearance buffers the fragile neck portion of the tube from the forces exerted from the multipack enclosure in a vertical stack configuration.

A support member 50 outwardly extending from the neck'relief area 24 provides a contoured support surface 52. The contoured support member 50 terminates at either end in interlock cars 60 of FIG. 1 which during the vertical stacking of multipack enclosures as illustrated in FIG. 5 interlock with the corner recesses 46 to restrict the horizontal movement of the vertically stacked individual multipack enclosures 20.

Additional lateral interlocking of vertically stacked multipack enclosures is provided by the torque-ingroove type of interlock represented by the protrusions 54 extending outwardly from the enlarged end of the cell cavity and the grooves 56 in the support member 50.

The protrusions 54 also cooperate with the recesses 89 in the feet elements 88 to permit vertically stacking of a pallet-package structure 1 one a multipack enclosure 20 as illustrated in the partial view of FIG. 6. This interlocking capability permits stable vertical stacking of loaded pallet-package structures.

Package section interconnect members comprised of alignment elements 64 provide accurate mating of package sections forming a multipack enclosure.

The pallet structure portion of the integral palletpackage structure 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 is comprised of a container section 82 having side walls 84, bottom 86, and base feet 88. The base feet 88, which form an integral part of the container section 82, as illustrated in the sectional view of FIG. 4 taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, function to raise the container section 82 a suffient height off the surfaces, which may correspond to the floor f of a warehouse or a shipping truck, to accommodate the insertion of the forks of a lift truck (not shown) beneath the container section 82. The arrangement of the base feet 88 as illustrated in FIG. 3 establishes two sets of substantially parallel, open, fork passages x and y in a mutually perpendicular configuration to permit insertion of the forks of a lift truck beneath the container section 82 from all sides of the pallet-package structure 1.

Additionally the arrangement of the base feet 88, as

illustrated in FIG. 3, and in particularly the position of the central base foot 88c, maintains proper alignment of the forks of a lift truck to prevent unstable lifting motion of the pallet-package structure 1.

The package section 10 forms an insert in the container section 82, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, and the combination comprises the pallet-package structure l which serves as a base unit for vertically stacked mated pairs of package sections according to the teachings of the above-identified patent application.

Open-ended tubulations 90 and 92 extending between the top and bottom of the pallet-package structure 1 as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 provide pallet-package structure rigidity. The tubulations 90, which extend between the relief area 26 and the base of the pallet structure 80, provide lateral rigidity which minimizes deflection of the pallet-package structure resulting from vertical forces imparted by a fork lift truck. Tubulations 92, which extend between the neck relief area24 and the base of the pallet structure 80, function primarily to increase the load bearing capability of the pallet structure in order to avoid pallet package structure deformation resulting from prolonged periods of supporting the weight of vertically stacked multi-pack enclosures. The tapered walls of the tubulations enhance the removal of the integrally formed pallet-package structure from molds at the completion of the vacuum forming process.

What is claimed is:

l. A pallet package structure for accommodating a plurality of pallet structure portion having a bottom and sides extending vertically therefrom to form a top container and a plurality of feet elements protruding outwardly from said bottom to establish said container in a raised position, said feet elements being arranged to establish passageways beneathsaid container for receiving the forks of a hoisting means on all sides of said pallet structure, and a plastic package structure portion extending from said side walls at the open top of said container and adapted within said pallet structure to form a container insert and package structure having a plurality of cell units, each comprised of recesses including a tapered cavity for receiving a television picture tube in a horizontal position, said cell units being arranged unidirectionally in rows, and alternate rows of cell units arranged in a reverse, end for end and slightly overlapping relationship, said tapered cavity having an enlarged end and a reduced end corresponding substantially to the shape of a television picture tube, said recesses including a recess extending from the reduced end of said tapered cavity to accommodate the neck portion of a television picture tube, said package structure enclosing approximately 50% of each television picture tube, a first relief area outwardly extending from the tapered cavity to accommodate the corona area of the television picture tube to prevent contact between the corona area and the plastic package structure and an inwardly extending support member of said package structure extending parallel to the peripheral edge of the large end of said tapered cavity to contact the edge portion of the face panel of a television picture tube positioned in a cell unit of said package structure and a second relief area at the reduced end of said tapered cavity to provide manual access for removal of the television picture tube from said plastic package structure portion.

2. A pallet-package structure as claimed in claim 1 including open-ended tubulations extending between said package structure portion and the bottom of said pallet structure portion to increase the rigidity of said pallet-package structure.

3. A pallet-package structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pallet structure portion and said package structure portions are an integral unit, said package portion extending continuously from said side walls.

4. A pallet-package structure as claimed in claim 1 including a second package structure portion substantially identical to said package structure portion, the orientation of said second package structure portion in an oppositely disposed mating relationship completely enclosing said cathode ray tube elements to form a multipack enclosure.

5. A pallet-package structure as claimed in claim 4 wherein said second package structure includes a mate type interlock means protruding outwardly in the area of the enlarged ends of said tapered cavities, and said feet elements of said pallet structure portion including female type interlocking means for meshing with said male interlocking means to permit stable vertical stacking of a pallet-package structure on a multipack enclosure. 

1. A pallet package structure for accommodating a plurality of pallet structure portion having a bottom and sides extending vertically therefrom to form a top container and a plurality of feet elements protruding outwardly from said bottom to establish said container in a raised position, said feet elements being arranged to establish passageways beneath said container for receiving the forks of a hoisting means on all sides of said pallet structure, and a plastic package structure portion extending from said side walls at the open top of said container and adapted within said pallet structure to form a container insert and package structure having a plurality of cell units, each comprised of recesses including a tapered cavity for receiving a television picture tube in a horizontal position, said cell units being arranged unidirectionally in rows, and alternate rows of cell units arranged in a reverse, end for end and slightly overlapping relationship, said tapered cavity having an enlarged end and a reduced end corresponding substantially to the shape of a television picture tube, said recesses including a recess extending from the reduced end of said tapered cavity to accommodate the neck portion of a television picture tube, said package structure enclosing approximately 50% of each television picture tube, a first relief area outwardly extending from the tapered cavity to accommodate the corona area of the television picture tube to prevent contact between the corona area and the plastic package structure and an inwardly extending support member of said package structure extending parallel to the peripheral edge of the large end of said tapered cavity to contact the edge portion of the face panel of a television picture tube positioned in a cell unit of said package structure and a second relief area at the reduced end of said tapered cavity to provide manual access for removal of the television picture tube from said plastic package structure portion.
 1. A pallet package structure for accommodating a plurality of pallet structure portion having a bottom and sides extending vertically therefrom to form a top container and a plurality of feet elements protruding outwardly from said bottom to establish said container in a raised position, said feet elements being arranged to establish passageways beneath said container for receiving the forks of a hoisting means on all sides of said pallet structure, and a plastic package structure portion extending from said side walls at the open top of said container and adapted within said pallet structure to form a container insert and package structure having a plurality of cell units, each comprised of recesses including a tapered cavity for receiving a television picture tube in a horizontal position, said cell units being arranged unidirectionally in rows, and alternate rows of cell units arranged in a reverse, end for end and slightly overlapping relationship, said tapered cavity having an enlarged end and a reduced end corresponding substantially to the shape of a television picture tube, said recesses including a recess extending from the reduced end of said tapered cavity to accommodate the neck portion of a television picture tube, said package structure enclosing approximately 50% of each television picture tube, a first relief area outwardly extending from the tapered cavity to accommodate the corona area of the television picture tube to prevent contact between the corona area and the plastic package structure and an inwardly extending support member of said package structure extending parallel to the peripheral edge of the large end of said tapered cavity to contact the edge portion of the face panel of a television picture tube positioned in a cell unit of said package structure and a second relief area at the reduced end of said tapered cavity to provide manual access for removal of the television picture tube from said plastic package structure portion.
 2. A pallet-package structure as claimed in claim 1 including open-ended tubulations extending between said package structure portion and the bottom of said pallet sTructure portion to increase the rigidity of said pallet-package structure.
 3. A pallet-package structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pallet structure portion and said package structure portions are an integral unit, said package portion extending continuously from said side walls.
 4. A pallet-package structure as claimed in claim 1 including a second package structure portion substantially identical to said package structure portion, the orientation of said second package structure portion in an oppositely disposed mating relationship completely enclosing said cathode ray tube elements to form a multipack enclosure. 